What Next | Daily News and Analysis How Dead Is the Department of Education?
12 snips
Jul 23, 2025 Laura Meckler, a national education writer for The Washington Post and author of "Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity," discusses the potential implications of shutting down the Department of Education. She highlights personnel shortages and the turmoil within the department, driven by recent memos and Supreme Court rulings. Meckler also addresses the historical evolution of education funding and civil rights, emphasizing the struggles faced by marginalized students and the alarming disparities in school discipline.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Department of Education Gutted
- The Department of Education is being gutted with mass layoffs and program cuts under Secretary Linda McMahon. - This could lead to its effective closure despite it still carrying out major functions like student loans.
Origins of the Education Department
- The Department of Education was established in 1979 to elevate educational needs with a dedicated federal agency. - Despite opposition from GOP presidents like Reagan, it endured attempts at elimination.
Closing Plans vs. Core Functions
- The Trump administration aims to close the Department but retain key functions like student loans and Title I funding. - The plan involves moving duties elsewhere, a complicated and gradual process.